Here we are in the central "rond point" or crossroads of Orleans, a small city 100kms south of Paris. This is a story about light rail in Orleans, My story is told from the viewpoint of a resident of Canberra, Australia - a city of over 300,000 people but with no light rail and with the highest level of car dependence of any city in Australia. Orleans is a small city of 250,000 people with a dense but pedestrian-friendly city centre.
A large part of the Orleans population live in garden city outskirts such as La Source. It was here that we stayed in 2005 with two host families (arranged through Servas, a program to promote international peace and understanding). La Source is just like one of the outlying town valleys of Canberra - a garden city with much open space and parks. We stayed at Boliere near an ornamental lake and close to the end of the light rail line.
The recent introduction of light rail has transformed the centre of Orleans, which is now partly car-free. This is the central plaza. Orleans' new light rail line is 18 kms in length, the longest in Europe. Note the size and number of doors on the light rail - making it much much quicker than a bus to get on or get off.
The Orleannais have reclaimed the streets. Note how carfree and carefree is their demeanour as the light rail approaches up the street. Because light rail moves so predictably, pedestrians tend to ignore it as they move around the city spaces. The conductor has to clang his bell to ask pedestrians to move aside, please, so he can proceed.
Boarding the light rail we enjoyed a garden city view for our trip home to our host family at La Source. The light rail experience has won such support from the people of Orleans that they want more. A new east-west light rail is now under construction, to be opened in 2010.
En route we passed through the Parc Floral de La Source - a large public flora reserve. After staying in Orleans for a few days, this city started to look more and more like France's equivalent of Australia's bush capital - a city which Bill Bryson described as "being hidden somewhere inside a park."
As you can see, the light rail carriageway has been developed to enhance the city's landscape. It was not cheap to build. It took a long time to complete. The political leader who pushed it through was thrown out of public office because of controversy over expense and delay in completion. But now all is forgiven. The city has a magnificent asset. The citizens have demanded a second light rail on an east west axis across the city - and plans are well advanced for its implementation.
Once an effective rail system is in place, a city is no longer captive to the demand for ever more roads with more lanes and more congestion. Carriageways can be reduced in size and traffic calmed to a more pedestrian-friendly size. Roads no longer operate as major barriers to communication across neighbourhoods.
Light rail has become so popular - it was standing room only for the first half of our trip. Light rail can move much larger numbers of people than can buses, and can move them much faster.
A recent price list shows a 30 rides ticket for seniors costs E20, that is, about A$1.20 per ride. Light rail can carry large numbers of people at very reasonable cost.
We passed several university campuses along the route. Light rail works best when it links major centres of attraction, such as town centres, universities, hospitals, technical colleges, major sporting venues, busy shopping centres. When a light rail is first built, not everyone will be handy to it. But over the longer term, light rail reshapes a city to a more sustainable settlement pattern - because most people want to live near such convenient transport.
This is the Orleans light rail route map on the upper wall of the carriage. Everyone knows where the rail will take you and also that the next tram will be along in just a few minutes. That's part of the recipe for successful public transport. If youhave to look at a timetable - or if you are not sure where a public conveyance might take you, public transport is less likely to be your first choice. Note the terminus at the La Source hospital, "Hopital de La Source".
This is where we alighted in La Source to walk around the lake to our host family's home. Note the shallow ramps for pram and wheelchair access at the light rail station. The scene here shows local police interviewing fare evaders. Our advice was "Make sure that you 'compost' (machine stamp) your tickets" - otherwise a fine may ensue.
